Method of making shoes.



1. F. McLAUGHLIN.

METHOD OF MAKING SHOES.

APPLICATION mm JULY 2. I917.

Patented Jan. 1, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1- McLAUGHLlN.

METHOD OF MAKING SHOES.

APPLICATION-FILED JULY 2. I917.

Patented Jan. 1,1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

\ amounts;

attozncqd tire upper, attach the sole thereto,

JOHN F. MQLAUGHLIN',

0F STAMAICA PLAIN, MASSACHUSETTS.

mnrnon or MAKING SHOES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 1, 1918.

l Application filed July 2, 1917. Serial No. 178,160.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN LIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Jamaica Plain, in the county 0 and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods of Making Shoes; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in the manufacture of shoes, and more particularly to ladies shoes having wooden heels, although the invention is not restricted to shoes of any particular class.

The usual method of manufacturing shoes having wooden heels, is to complete the enthen secure the heel to the shoe by cement, and clamp the heel in place, permitting it to stand anywhere from eight to twelve hours in order thatthe cement may properly set. This method requires a great amount of floor space for the shoes while they are held in the clamps as well as a plurality of racks upon which they are usually employed.

To overcome the above pointed out undesirable features-of the present method, my invention has for its object to provide an improved method of shoe manufacture in which the heel, the heel counter, foxing are assembled and applied to the otherwise completed shoe, as a single unit. This application of the parts in question takes place while the last is in the upper, so that when the several parts are cemented together, it is only necessary to drive one or more tacks through them into the last in order to hold the newly applied parts so that the cement may join them to the previously assembled parts.

By the method above briefly pointed out, the cement dries or sets while the several finishing operations are being performed, so that it is not necessary to hold the shoe in a clamp or the like as in the old method.

With the foregoing general object in view, the invention resid es in the improved method hereinafter fully described and claimed, the descriptive matter .being supplemented by the accompanying drawings which form :1.

art of this specification and in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a shoe eel, the heel in condition to receive the h counter, heel faxing;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the manner in which the foxing and the counter are secured together;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the if-llid foxing and counter secured to the Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section of Fig. 3 showing more particularly the manner of plonpecting the foxing and counter with the Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing the manner in which the assembled heel, foxing, and counter are applied to the shoe;

Fig. 6 is a duplicate of Fig. 5 with exception that it shows the heel, counter, and foxing completely applied in readiness for completion of the shoe;

Fig. 7 is a longitudinal section of the heel portion of the shoe showing more particularly the manner in which the newly assembled partsare secured in place by one or more tacks; and

Fig. 8 is a partial perspective view of a completed shoe constructed in accordance with the present invention.

In carrying out the improved method, the upper 1 is completely assembled with the exception of applying the heel foxing 2 thereto, the sole 3 being secured to the upper in the usual or any preferred manner. Before the sole is secured in place, however, the usual lining 4: is applied. At the juncture of the heel portion 5 of the sole 3, with the arch or instep portion 6, the sole is decrease slightly in width by forming a pair of angular notches 7 in its opposite edges as shown most clearly in Figs. 1 and 5, this detail of construction being of advantage in a manner to beset forth.

The heel foxing 2 is glued or cemented to the outer side of the heel counter 8 and both of these parts are glued or otherwise secured to the heel 9, a metal strip 10 being by preference secured by. a tack 11 to the upper end of the heel 9, one end of said strip overlying the inwardly turned edges of the counter and foxing at the rear portion thereof, to effectively retain this portion in contact'with the heel, and in most cases, a plurality of tacks 12 will be driven through the lower edges of the counter and foxing to hold them to the heel until the cement or glue has set. In the manufacture of most shoes, the heel, the heel toning. and the heel counter will be assembled substantially as described, but in other types, it is obvious that these three parts could well be formed of a single piece of material properly shaped for producing the desired results. Furthermore, I do not restrict myself to the use of any particular materials, since those already well known, as well as others which may come into use in the future, may all be operated upon by the present method.

The unit formed by the assembled parts 2,

8 and 9, is applied to the heel portion of the cement, glue or any other preferred adhe- SlVe, so that they will be readily secured together when such adhesive has set. In order to properly hold these one or more tacks 13 are driven therethrough and into the last 14 upon which the shoe has been so far constructed.

After performing the operation above described, the rear end of the thin outer sole 15 is cemented to the front of the heel 9 to produce a finished appearance. The foxing 2 is now stitched or otherwlsesecured to the upper 1 as shown at 16, after which the usual finishing operations may be performed. It is to be observed, however, that while such operations are being carried out the cement by which the counter, foxing and heel were secured in place, is hardening so that no time is lost in the manufacture. Furthermore, the heel is held in proper place without the use of clamps such as those now commonly employed. a

The improved. method above described, will not only decrease the length of time required for .the manufacture of boots and shoes, but will otherwise decrease the ex-v pense of such manufacture. One of the principal reasons for the inexpensive production, is the fact that the foxings and counters may be readily cemented together by unskilled hands and similarly, skilled labor is not necessary when securing the united foxings and counters to the heels, it being a very simple matter to attach-these parts by means of the strips 10 and the tacks 11.

From the foregoing, taken'in connection parts in contact,

meaaea however, that within the scope of the invention as claimed, numerous minor changes could well be made.

. I claim: a

1. The method of constructing shoes comprising the steps of assembling and securing together the outer sole and upper, applying the heel and the heel foxing as a single unit, and securing said heel and foxing in place.

2. The method of constructing shoes comprising the steps of assembling and securing together the outer sole and upper, applying the heel, the heel counter, and the heel foxing as a single unit, and securing them in place.

3. The method of constructing shoes comprising the steps of assembling and securing together the outer sole "and upper, assem bling the heel foxing and the heel and securing them together to form a single unit, applying said unit and securing it in place.

4. The method of constructing shoes comprising the steps of assembling and securing together the outer sole and upper, assembling the heel counter, the heel foxing, and the heel and securing them together to form a single unit, applying said unit, and securing it in place.

5. The method of. constructing shoes comprising the steps of assembling the upper with the exception ofthe heel foxing and securing the outer sole to said upper, forming a pair of opposed notches at thefront I end of the heel portion of said sole, applying the heel, the heel foxing, and the heel counter in a single unit and guiding the.

front edges of said counter and foxingby said notches, and securing said foxing to said upper. I

testimony whereof I have hereunto set my'hand in the presence of two subscribing 

